MY ACCOUNT
Manchester United’s revival under Ralf Rangnick has hit the buffers.
After back-to-back wins to end January, last week’s shock FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough was followed by a disappointing draw with Burnley on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils boss has insisted that his side are improving — but to what extent is that true?
As United prepare to host Southampton this lunchtime, we take a look at the German tactician’s impact at Old Trafford.
A word from the boss
Following that defeat to Middlesbrough on penalties, Rangnick remained positive about the bigger picture for his side.
He said: “Overall, the development of the team and performances over the last couple of weeks have improved.
“Apart from playing together as a team in defence and improving, we invested some time in our offensive principles and it showed in the game against West Ham and Middlesbrough where we created numerous chances.”
A results business
United have picked up 18 points from Rangnick’s nine Premier League matches in charge so far under the German, equating to two points per game.
That is a marked increase on the 1.42 points per game they averaged in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 12 matches this season.
Much has rightly been made of how Rangnick could stylistically transform United during his interim tenure.
But football is ultimately a results business — and United have certainly improved in that respect over the last couple of months.
Fixing the leak
Under Solskjaer, United lacked shape and were frequently exposed at the back.
Across those aforementioned 12 matches, they allowed 165 shots at an average of 13.75 per game.
Since Rangnick took the reins, that average has dropped to 11.89 — and that has inevitably played some part in United conceding fewer goals.
In Solskjaer’s fixtures as Red Devils’ manager this season they conceded 21 goals at a rate of 1.75 per match. The corresponding figure during Rangnick’s time in charge? A markedly lower 0.78.
A balancing act
The team’s imbalance played its part, but the numbers suggest that Solskjaer’s side were more of an attacking force than Rangnick’s United have been so far.
Looking again at the Norwegian’s final 12 fixtures versus the 63-year-old’s first nine, we can see that the Red Devils have gone from averaging 1.67 goals per game to 1.44.
There has been a slightly bigger drop in big chances created per match too — from two to 1.44 — but, if anything, these figures highlight the much-needed equilibrium Rangnick has brought to the team.
Not pushing on
United have dropped 11 points from winning positions this term — five under Solskjaer, four under Rangnick, and two during Michael Carrick’s brief caretaker spell between the two.
Only one team in the Premier League’s top six have dropped more points from games they have been leading this campaign (Chelsea, 13).
United were also ahead against Middlesbrough, so it would appear that they still have some work to do in terms of holding on to leads.
A couple of Rangnick’s victories have been rather laboured, too. United only beat West Ham last month thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Marcus Rashford — while it took a 75th-minute Cristiano Ronaldo penalty to see off struggling Norwich in December.
The Red Devils are on the right track, but there is plenty more for their German manager to resolve this season.
